by Pedro Urvi
“And you come here to the Camp instead of going to see your family or your friends? Curious …”
Nilsa and Gerd were left not knowing what to say. They looked at each other blankly. Egil stepped in, giving his friends a grateful smile.
“They’ve come to visit me, their old friend and partner in the Camp.”
“Oh I see. Out of friendship? Or for some other reason?” The first question seemed casual, the second was clearly intentional.
Egil was silent for a moment, looking thoughtful.
“I asked them to come to help me with something. Since we’re good friends, they came at once. So both reasons apply, sir.”
A glint of intelligence appeared in Angus’s eyes. “I see. Friends who come to do a favor. May I ask what favor that is?”
Nilsa and Gerd glanced aside at Egil. Their friend still had not told them why they were here, and now Angus was asking directly. He was certainly a very inquisitive character.
“It’s about our leader and his illness,” Egil replied.
“Oh. That interests me. What do you have in mind?”
“You see, sir, there’s information about the illness afflicting our leader which might be of help …”
Angus lowered his gaze. “Dolbarar is a great man. A leader who’s done a wonderful job all his life, and in particular here, directing the Camp in a praiseworthy way. I’m very saddened by his current state of health. Healer Edwina and the Master Ranger Eyra do what they can, but I fear the illness is winning the battle against time.”
“That’s why I’d like to investigate one last route,” Egil said.
Angus narrowed his eyes and stared into Egil’s. “What route is that?”
“After much research, and after consulting the most relevant Erudites and Healers of the main kingdoms of Tremia, I believe I’ve found a possible line of investigation which would be worth following. But it would involve a long journey to a kingdom in Central Tremia.”
“I’m aware that you’ve been exchanging messages with Erudites and healers of all Tremia and asking for help from them. I know you’ve been trying to help Dolbarar non-stop ever since he fell ill. All the same, wouldn’t this be one last desperate gesture in the face of an inevitable fact …?”
Egil put his head to one side, bit his lip and pondered his next words.
“It might look like that, but I really think I’ve managed to identify a new course of action which might be crucial.”
Angus scratched his chin. “Explain yourself. What have you found out?”
“There’s a tome of knowledge which mentions a sickness of the blood, and from the symptoms described, it’s very like what Dolbarar is suffering from. The tome mentions the treatment which was followed to cure the patient.”
“What tome? What patient? Did he recover?”
Egil nodded. “He recovered, although he very nearly didn’t. The patient was Leonidas Inversnal of the Kingdom of Erenal.”
“Leonidas Inversnal? The father of King Dasleo, the current monarch of Erenal?”
“That’s right, sir. I’ve been exchanging mail with Erudite Martos, Master Archivist of Natural Knowledge at the Grand Library, a real eminence in his field, and he’s confirmed the fact.”
“That’s very interesting. If a member of the monarchy of Erenal has suffered from the illness, then it’ll be very well documented. Their scholars and Erudites are famous, and their library of knowledge is the most renowned in all Tremia. It’s said to be a temple of knowledge, without paragon. I’ve always wanted to visit it, but it was never possible for me to.”
“That’s correct, sir. The majestic Library of Bintantium, the Grand Library of Erenal, the capital of the realm, is famous throughout Tremia for the immense knowledge treasured within its walls. I’m convinced that’s where we’ll find a cure for Dolbarar.”
“What I don’t understand is,” Angus began, mulling this over, “if Martos, the Master Archivist of Natural Knowledge, has confirmed that the symptoms are similar, why hasn’t he explained the treatment? Why do you need Nilsa and Gerd?”
Egil sighed. “It’s not that simple, sir. The Erudite has confirmed that it might be the same illness. On the other hand, he can’t send me the information by letter or message. It’s stored in a royal tome because it affected a monarch of Erenal, and the laws that rule the Library forbid it. You can go to the Library and consult the knowledge, but not take it out or divulge it openly.”
“An odd law those Erudites have – although it makes a kind of sense. That way they ensure that only they have all the knowledge, and hence have a great advantage.”
“Exactly,” Egil agreed. “Knowledge is power, and that’s something they know very well.”
“Although not divulging knowledge which might save others seems selfish to me,” Angus said, looking annoyed. “More than that, greedy.”
“That’s my feeling too. The current King of Erenal, like his ancestors, knows that knowledge is highly valued, and he treasures and protects it.”
Nilsa looked at Gerd, whose expression made it clear that he had no idea what was going on.
“In that case … if they haven’t given you the information you want, I imagine from the presence of your two friends here today that you want them to go to Erenalia and get it for you.”
“That’s right. It’s the reason why I asked them to come. I imagined that my presence would be required here to help in the good functioning of the Camp, so that it would be impossible for me to go in search of the information in person. That’s why I thought of Nilsa and Gerd. I need someone absolutely trustworthy, and with the intellectual capacity to find and understand the information we need.”
“I see … two Rangers of proven value, and who I imagine are intellectually more than capable.”
“That’s right, sir.”
“And you’re convinced that this information you’re seeking will be able to help Dolbarar?” Angus asked. He sounded as though he had very little confidence in this.
“Yes. I’ve searched ceaselessly, and this is the only information I’ve found which might serve to save the life of our beloved leader.”
“And the last,” Angus added sadly, “since I’m afraid he has very little time left … Let me think about what you’ve told me. I’ve found it all very interesting.”
“Time presses …” Egil began, keen to prevent Angus from interfering with his plans.
“True. It won’t take me long to put my thoughts in order. Come back this evening and we’ll finish discussing this matter. I’m very worried about Dolbarar, and if this is his last option, I want to think it through.”
Egil, Nilsa and Gerd exchanged worried looks. “Of course, sir,” Egil said. He was keen to avoid confrontation with the interim leader.
“Go now, and we’ll talk later.”
The three friends gave brief nods and left the office. As they were leaving the Great Hall Egil looked back over his shoulder, as if making sure they were not being followed.
Gerd arched one eyebrow when they reached the middle of the bridge. “Do you believe he’s sincere in his concern about Dolbarar?”
Egil gave a slight shrug. “There’s nothing to suggest otherwise. He might be too straightforward, and he might want to control absolutely everything, but that doesn’t necessarily make him bad. It may really be true that he’s very worried about Dolbarar and wants to save him.”
“Or he might be pretending, and we’ve swallowed it all hook, line and sinker,” said Nilsa.
“Certainly that too might be the case.”
“And how will we know which of the two it is?” Gerd asked anxiously.
“By not trusting, and keeping our eyes and ears open.”
“We can’t trust anybody,” Nilsa said. “Particularly when Dolbarar’s life is on the line.”
“You don’t think Angus wants him to die?” Gerd asked doubtfully.
Nilsa gave him a suspicious look. “Well, who’s the current Camp leader?”
/> Gerd looked shocked, and a little frightened. “I don’t think his ambition goes to that extreme.”
Nilsa turned to Egil. “What do you think?”
Egil shook his head very slowly. “No, I don’t think so either. But he does have a reason for not wanting Dolbarar to get better, there’s no doubt about that. He’d be left as Camp leader, and closer to Gondabar as absolute leader of the Rangers.”
“I can’t believe there are so many greedy people in the world,” Gerd protested.
“Unfortunately there are, believe me,” Egil assured him.
“By now I don’t even trust my own shadow anymore,” said Nilsa.
“And you’re right not to,” Egil said. He squeezed her arm affectionately.
Nilsa smiled at him. “Let me ask you something, Egil,” she said when they had crossed the bridge. “What you told Angus about the library and that tome and all the rest of it … it’s true, isn’t it?” There was a look of distrust on her face.
“Don’t tell me it was all a ruse!” Gerd said suspiciously.
Egil smiled broadly. “Almost all of it is true,” he replied, enjoying the suspense.
“Almost all of it?” they repeated at the same moment.
Egil smiled, nodded and went on walking.
Chapter 11
As Nilsa, Egil and Gerd went into the Sacred Oakwood, the site which represented the heart of the Rangers, they felt the arcane aura which emanated from it. The centuries-old oaks seemed to be the stoical safeguards of a spirit which lay dormant there. They had the impression that the beautiful trees were its guardians, granting the place a very special atmosphere which everybody felt the moment they set foot inside it. There was a mystical air about it.
Gerd spread his arms wide and closed his eyes, feeling the presence of the place. “Every time I come here,” he said, “I feel calm, absolutely at peace.”
“It makes me rather nervous,” Nilsa admitted. “Not that I don’t like it, I think it’s beautiful …”
“So?” Gerd asked.
“It’s just that … I think there’s something magical here … and that makes me uneasy. I can’t be sure about it, but I have this feeling, as if the trees were generating magic … or perhaps it’s the earth their roots go deep into.”
“You’re not entirely mistaken there,” Egil said with a smile.
She frowned. “No? The Master Rangers never told us this was a place with magic.”
“There are places in Tremia which have magic. For instance, the White Forest, in the realm of Irinel, to the East. It’s thought that the forest produces healing magic, and there are regular pilgrimages of sick people in search of a cure.”
“Oh, really?” Gerd asked, his interest piqued. “And does the forest really heal?”
“I can’t swear to that, but yes, it does have magic. There are various studies by eminent erudite who conclude that the place is genuinely charmed, and that’s not because of any Object of Major Power in it.”
“But do the sick people get cured?” Gerd wanted to know.
“Many people believe so. It seems that after visiting the White Forest, there are many sick people who recover from their illnesses.”
Nilsa looked disbelieving. “That could be because they got better all by themselves, or else because they believe they did. It doesn’t necessarily have to be because of the forest’s magic.”
“Correct. Nobody has been able to demonstrate a direct connection, though many believe there is one.”
“It must be the ignorant masses,” she protested. “I wouldn’t go near it, you can be sure of that. Who knows what effects that magic really has?”
“I wouldn’t call them the ignorant masses. Don’t be mean. It’s generally the case that those who believe most in these things are the ones who have least and suffer the most.” The look on his face suggested that she ought to be more empathic.
“I don’t see anything wrong in them believing it cures them, if they really feel better,” Gerd pointed out.
“Maybe so,” Nilsa objected, “but those ones who go with great hopes and don’t get better get the disappointment of their lives, and instead of being poorly they end up being worse.”
Gerd scratched the nape of his neck. “Yeah … that’s true too.”
“Anyway,” Egil said, “it’s stated that there are magical forests in Tremia, so this oak wood might be one of them too.”
“So why hasn’t anybody studied it?” Gerd asked.
“For two reasons. The first and most important is that it’s a secret place and sacred for the Rangers, so scholars and erudite need a special permit from the King to come here. Of course foreigners are refused that, even if they may have found out about this place somehow. The second is that its magical power doesn’t seem significant enough to awaken the interest of the Erudites of the court, who are more interested in finding more valuable Objects of Power.”
“I think they should stop looking for magical objects,” Nilsa said. “That’ll only bring trouble.”
“Well,” Egil pointed out, “you’ve just brought one to Norghana, and it served to destroy a being from the frozen abysses.”
“Yeah, but who knows what else it’ll be used for in the future? Imagine that one day the Turquoise Queen decides to conquer a kingdom in Tremia. Who’s going to stand up to her magic when she has the Star of Sea and Life?”
Gerd looked frightened at the mere thought. Egil smiled.
“Let’s hope that day never comes.”
When they reached the Sacred Oak, Egil put his hand on the trunk, closed his eyes and felt it.
“I don’t know whether it has magic or not – unfortunately I don’t have the skill to say – but on the other hand I can confirm that like Gerd, I feel very calm and at peace in this place where the first Rangers lie resting. In a way it’s as if they were watching over us.”
Gerd too put his hand on the trunk and closed his eyes. “It takes away my fears and relaxes me,” he said.
Nilsa did not move, but watched them with her arms crossed. She had no intention of feeling the peace which emanated from the oak, in case it should really have magic and touch her.
“I see I’m not the only one who loves this place,” came a voice, and when they turned they saw the Healer Edwina approaching. They greeted her respectfully.
She nodded slightly and smiled at them. She looked very tired and rather aged. She had lost that look of health and physical fortitude she had always projected. She looked ill … which was deeply shocking in a Healer, of all people.
“How’s the patient today?” Egil asked.
Edwina sighed. “He’s clinging to a thread of life which we’re trying by all means possible to prevent from breaking.”
“We’re all grateful for the sacrifice,” Egil said.
“It’s no sacrifice, it’s my duty, and in Dolbarar’s case I do it out of friendship too. I owe him so much.”
“We all owe him so much,” Gerd agreed.
“Isn’t he improving?” Nilsa said, hoping against hope that the Healer would give her good news.
“No, my dear, he’s not. And to be honest, I don’t understand why. I can’t find the cause. Every night I go to bed thinking I’ve managed to eradicate the illness from his body, then every morning it reappears, without any obvious cause. However thoroughly I search in his body, I can’t find the source of the infection. Good Eyra’s healing potions don’t eliminate it either, they only manage to keep him alive. Sometimes I think it’s self-induced, that his own body is generating the infection of the blood during the night. It’s as if a vengeful Ice God had punished Dolbarar for something he might have done in the past. Every day I struggle to get rid of the illness. Every day I think I’ve succeeded. Every day I find out that it’s not true, and that I’ve failed.”
“Oh … that’s so sad,” Nilsa said. Her eyes moistened.
Gerd sighed deeply. “That really is bad news …”
“It’s a very strange illness,�
�� Egil said. He too had been studying it for a long time.
“So it is.” The Healer changed the subject. “And what are you two doing here? It’s been a long time since I saw you. You haven’t got into some kind of trouble, have you? The Snow Panthers were always in trouble, don’t think I don’t remember.” A mischievous smile lit up her tired face.
“We never meant to,” Nilsa said apologetically. She shrugged and smiled as if she were a good girl.
“So you say … what a bunch of rascals you were.”
“Do you remember everyone who’s passed through the Camp?” Gerd asked her in surprise.
Edwina smiled again. “Not everybody. The most troublesome ones, yes.”
“We were certainly that,” Egil agreed.
“You certainly were! How’s Lasgol?” the Healer asked suddenly. “I often remember him.”
“He’s very well.” Nilsa did not want to reveal any more than was necessary. “He’s on … on a journey … with Ingrid and Viggo.”
“Well, he’s in good company, he’ll be fine. I’m talking about Ingrid, of course. Viggo’s sure to bring them trouble.” The Healer smiled again.
“Yeah, that’s more or less certain,” Egil said, and they all nodded.
“I’m surprised to see you here. Most of the Rangers don’t come very often. You know, because of the superstitions …”
“Because of the spirits of those who are buried here?” Gerd guessed.
“Because it’s a place of magic?” Nilsa asked deliberately.
Edwina smiled. “All that and more, I’m afraid.”
“Are the spirits and the magic true?” Egil wanted to know.
Edwina shrugged. “Who knows? What I can assure you is that it does me good to come here. I’m finding it harder and harder to regenerate my magic after the treatment sessions with Dolbarar. Unfortunately I need more and more magic to treat him, and the sessions too are longer and longer. They exhaust me completely, so that afterwards it’s very hard to replenish my inner well of energy. That’s why I come here. It helps me to rest, and to regenerate my magic more quickly.”